Arc mechanism for systems of space communications.



L. DE FOREST. ARC MECHANISM FOR SYSTEMS 0P SPACE COMMUNICATIONS.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.20, 1909. 1,123,120, s Patented Dec.29,1914.

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L. DE FOREST ARG MECHANISM FOR SYSTEMS OP SPACE UOMMUNIOATIONS. APPLICATION FILED -JAN .2O119O9' 1 2-3, mg, Patented Dec. 29, 1914.

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' UPI/Lewes I I I a mp0 14 17 1, W f al'i'cnot; 32 g LEE DE FOR-EST, OF NEW YORK, Nv

rinrr sari? Y., ASSIGNOR TO DE FOREST RADIO TELEPHONE &

- TELEGRAPH GOIVIPAIYBI'. A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

ARC MECHANISM FOR- SYSTEMS OF SPACE COMMUEICATIONS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 29, 1914.

Application filed January 20, 1909. Serial No. 473,316,

To all whom it may concern: Be it known that I, LEE DE Fonns'r, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, in the county and State of New York, have made a certain new and useful. lnven tion in Are Mechanism for Systems of Space Communications, of which the following is a specification. I

This inventionrelates more particularly to the arc mechanism employed in connection with systems of space communication. The object ofthe invention is to provide means which are "simple and efficient for maintaininga low voltage are in the production of electro-magnetie oscillations and the radiation of wave trains therefrom.

A further object is the provision of means whereby the arc may controlled, and the electrodes maintained cool, thereby utilizing, to sible extent, the energy supplied to the arc, in the generation and radiation of the wave trains.

Other objects of the invention will appear more fully hereinafter.

The invention consists substantially in the construction, combination, location, and arrangement, all as will be more fully hereinafter set forth, as shown in the accompanying drawings, and finally pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, is a view showing one and arrangement embodying the principles of my invention, and designed for radio or space telephonic use. Fig. 2 1s a view illustrating another method of controlling the are for radio or space telephonic communication. Fig. 3 is a view illustrating an ar rangement designed for radio or space telegraphic opera'tion. Fig. 4 is a view showing a form of means for regulating the space between the electrodes.

In the operation of apparatus employed for effecting communication through space it is exceedingly desirable to utilize to the greatest possible extent the energy emploved in'the generation of the electro-magnetic wave trains, since the greater theefiiciencv in wave train generation, as compared with the primary energy employed, the greater will be the distances through which communication can be effected, and the closer and sharper can the system 'be Figure 1 be readily and easily' the greatest posform er mechanism sible amount of the energy cent parts,

' also capable of tuned. In systems heretofore proposed, and, particularly systems employing an electric arc bridged by an oscillating circuit containing a condenser and self induction, a large part of the energy of the cur rent employed to produce the arc is consumed in the heat of the arc and in heating the electrodes and adjacent parts, thereby detracting from the energy of the radiations produced. proposed for overcoming this difficulty, 5 by employing a hollow electrode and oil culating cooling by forming the are in air, and the like, but these methods have proven only partially successful in attaining the desired results. Moreover, in arc systems -heretofore"'em ployed it has been necessary to bring the electrodes into contact with each other, and then to separate them in order to strike the arc. In the case, of relatively -movingelectrodes this is objectionable since one or the other of the relatively movlng electrodes is worn or broken off on the surface thereof Various expedients have been I medium therethrough,

troducing lrregularities into the operation of the system, and requiring constant adjustments of the parts to overcome them.

It is among the special purposes of my present invention to obviate these and other objections encountered in the use and operation of apparatus of this nature, and. to provide means whereby employed in the are circuit is utilized in wave train generation, whereby physical contact of the arc electrodes is avoided. whereby the arc is struck and is maintained without the electrodes being brought into contact with each other, whereby the are as well as the adja is maintained cooled and whereby efficient control of the arc is effected and maintained.

In carrying out my invention I employ electrodes which are relatively movable. and

each other, the are being formed between the proximate relatively moving edges or surfaces of the electrodes and I deliver a jet or spray of liquid upon the arc and upon the surfaces of the electrodes at and adjacent the arc. The jet or spray forms a film whichbridges the space between the electhe greatestpos adjustment toward and fromtrodes and strikes the arc, and thereafter maintains the electrodes cool and reduces the heat of the are, thereby enabling a large part of energy which has heretofore been dissipated in heat, to be utilized in the production of oscillations for generation and radiation of electro-magnetic wave trains.

1n the drawings, reference signs 6', e designate electrodes. These may be of any suitable or convenient construction and arrangement. In practice, however, I prefer to employ metallic electrodes. In the form shown in Fig. 1, the electrodes 6,, 0 are mounted for relative movement, and, in this instance, the electrode e is in the form of a disk mounted to revolve on'its axis, while the electrode e is cylindrical in form and is supported in such relation to the disk electrode e as to present one edge thereof to the edge of the revolving disk. The electrodes e, 6 are inciosed within a casing D, which opens or delivers into a receptacle F. A fine jet or spray of. a suitable fluid, such for instance, as water, is delivered uponthe are formed between the proximate points of the electrodes, as, for example, through a. nozzle N, extending into the casing D, from a supply reservoir R. A valve, cock or other convenient throttling device k, may serve to regulate and control thejet or spray delivered. to the arc. The fluid, after performing its function, at and in the vicinity of the arc,

passes from the casing D, into the receiving receptacle F, orelsewhere, as may be'convenient, and, if desired may, be returned to the reservoir R", by means of a pump P, or other means. The circuit of the arc electrodes is supplied with energizing current from any suitable orconvenient source... I

have shown a direct current generatorG, for this purpose. The circuit of the arc is bridged by anoscillating circuit containing a self inductance L, and a condenser C.

The oscillating circuit may be associated, in

any desired or well'known manner, with the circuit of an aerial or antenna A, which may be grounded as at E. In the form shown the inductance L of the oscillating circuit is inductively associated with an in-' ductance L in the antenna circuit, although other forms of association or coupling of the circuit, or those set oscillating and antenna circuits may be employed. The oscillations in the oscillating in the antenna circuit, may be modifie in any Wellknown manner for the purpose'of effecting the desired communication, as, for instance by' .means of a microphone, indicated at- M,.or

otherwise, as may be desired. A desirable relative adjustment of the electrodes, the

one toward or away from the other, may be accomplished in any suitable or convenient manner in order to adjustably regulate the length of the are. In Fig.4, 1 have shown,

a simple and eflicient arrangement for. ac-

other, fluid upon the are,

produced, thereby dispensing with complishingfthis result, and .wherein the I duced and maintained.

Instead of delivering a jet of water or such fluid may be delivered thereto in'proper form in many other ways. In'Fig. ,4, I have indicated how a spray of the fluid -may be delivered to. the are by the rotatio'n of the electrodee in the. fluid contained in the casing D", the rapidly revolving electrodeoperating to carry a sufficient amount of the fluid around with it to cause a sprayzor film of the liquid to be delivered upon the arc. this casethe casing D, is closed and-contains a suflicient amount of the fluid for the electrodeefi orfa portion thereof, to revolvein such fluid. I

I have found that" the'oscillations' of the are depend so materially on. the. delivery of the fluid jet, film or spray, thereto, that they become completely interrupted, and the arc may become completely extinguished when" the jet, film orspnay is out off or arrested. 'I-may make use of this," therefore, in effecting space communication, by suitably regulating, varying or otherwise controlling the supply or delivery of the jet, film or spray of liquid to the arc.- This control of the jet, and by this term herein Iintend to include a film or spray, may be effected by means of .a quick acting valve or cook, it, through the proper manipulation of whichfm. place of a telegraph key, for instance, radiations correspondingto andcapable of being received at the distant station-as, dots and dashes of the Morse telegraph code, may be the necessity. for a'telegraph key. Similarly, for telephonic communication, the jet may be variedlor controlled, or its changed by suitable means, such, for instance, as a deflector, pin, vane or other convenient...forn1 of throttling or controlling device, arranged to be operated by the sound waves produced by articulatespeech, as, for instance a diaphragm M, having a mouthpiece M, for directing the sound Waves produced by the voice to such diaphragm. In Fig.2'is shown an arrangement embodying this idea, the dotted line-p, indicating the pathaltered or normal path of the jet, said jet being more orv less deflected from such normal path by the operation of the pin or vane 0, according to and in consonance with the vibrations of e, as to present its rotating edge to' the Cir particularly designed for use in connection with telephonic communication, as, thereby, continuous wavetrains are radiated. In the form shown in these views of the drawing, this electrode comprises a disk mounted to revolve in such relation to the electrode proximate point or edge of the electrode 6, the are being formedbetween the points on the edge surfaces of the electrodes which are in closest approximation to each other, and as the arc is constantly maintained, at least so long as the jet of water or other fluid is supplied thereto, it will at once be perceived that continuous wave train radiations are effected, as above stated, this being a desired condition for space telephonic communication. In the case of wireless or space telegraphic work, however, I propose to employ an electrode having its peripheral edge toothed, or formed irregularly in any arbitrary form, dependingon the tone or timbre of the note which it may be desired to use at the receiving station. This arrangement is shown in Fig. 3, and by such arrangement, the jet, spray or film of water 'or other fluid, being maintained, as above explained, the arc is successively established between the'teeth' of the one electrode and the proximate point of the other, or *between the teeth of both electrodes, if both are toothed, as the electrodes, or the toothed surface thereof are relatively moved, the are being successively extinguished as theteeth pass in such relative movement. In this manner the arc is rapidly made and extinguished, and in the desired degree of rapidity to produce the required note in the receiver. The result is that a rapid succession of long, slowi y damped wave trains are generated and radiated, thus givingall the advantages ofexceedingly sharp tuning or syntony, while at the same time producing a high frequency note at the receiver, very easy to distinguish and read. The key K, may be placed at any desired or convenient part of the system, in the usual or any well known manner. In all cases it is desirable to maintain the electrodes out of physical contact with each other. The jet, spray or film of water streaming across the gap betweenthe proximate points of the electrodes and over the surfaces of the electrodes not only maintains. the arc and electrodes cool, even when a current of high amperage, say ten amperes. is employed, but it also serves to bridge such gap, thereby establishing-the are without requiring the electrodes to be brought into physical contact with each other. Thus I am enabled to employ a current of large amperage and comparatively low voltage, securing very violent and regular oscillations, thereby greatly extending the range of distance through which the apparatus is effective for communication, and by merely changing from the disk to the tooth form of electrodes, I am enabled to vary from a constant are, giving continuous wave train radiation, such as is desirable to employ for telephonic operation, to an interrupted are, giving a rapid succession of long, slowly damped wave train radiations, such as is desirable for telegraphic work.

Many different arrangements and forms of electrodes may be employed, and many different arrangements of other details may be adopted and still fall within the spirit and scope of my invention as defined in the claims. I do not desire, therefore, to be limited or restricted to the exact. or any specific form and arrangement of apparatus. But

Having now set forth the object and'nature of my invention, and various arrange ments and embodying the principles thereof, what I claim as new and useful and of my own invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. The combination with are electrodes having an air space between their proximate portions, of means for causing a continuous flow of liquid to the air space between the electrodes.

2. In an apparatus for wireless communication including a radiating system, the combination with are electrodes, of means for continuously delivering a liquid jet to the space between said electrodes, and means for controlling said jet.

3. In an apparatus for wireless communication, an oscillating system including are means for plaving a jet of water on the proximate surfaces of said electrodes.

6. The combination with are electrodes mounted for relative movement, of means for adiusting the same toward and from each other, and means for delivering a liq- &

tion including arc electrodes, means for rotating both of said electrodes, and means for relative movement, and a nozzle arranged to deliver a jet of cooling liquid to the space between the electrodes.

11. An apparatus for wireless communication including arc electrodes spaced apart with an air-space between them and mounted for relative rotation, one of'said electrodes having means to successively interrupt the arc, and means for causing a continuous fiow of liquid to the air space between the electrodes.

12. An apparatus for wireless communi .cation includingarc electrodes spaced apart with an air space between them mounted for relative rotation, one of said electrodes being toothed, and means for causing a continuous flow of liquid to the space between said electrodes.

13. An apparatus for wireless communication including arc electrodes mounted for relative rotation, one of said electrodes being toothed, and means for supplying a cooling liquid jet to the space between said electrodes.

14.. An apparatus for-wireless communication including arc electrodes mounted for relative movement, one of said electrodes being in the formof a toothed disk, and means for continuously supplying a jet of liquid to the space between said electrodes.

, 15. An apparatus for wireless communication including arc electrodes, means for continuously delivering a jet of liquid to the space therebetween, and means for controlling said jet.

the space between said electrodes,and means for controlling said jet.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of the subscribing witnesses, on this 18th day of January A. D., 1909.

LEE DE FOREST.

Witnesses:

J. KLEIN, C. FELGENAKER, 

